Keeping the Union together, freeing slaves and being assassinated all added up to creating 'Lincoln the myth.' He overcame a lot of his own prejudices and became what many would consider the first black man's president.
Politicians will not put forth programs aimed at the problems of poor blacks while their turnout remains so low.
Lincoln would love the fact that Obama is such a great conciliator, trying to transcend ideology.
I knew that there were black people in Africa, of course, unfortunately because of movies such as 'Tarzan.'
I don't think the riots derailed the civil rights movement.
Because Lincoln is so closely identified with what it is to be American, everyone wants to claim him, to rewrite his story to satisfy their own particular needs.